Soft Fruit Day

Soft Fruit Day. I’m Greg Martin with today’s Fruit Grower Report.

BJ Thurlby, President of the Washington State Fruit Commission is excited about the upcoming Yakima Valley Soft Fruit Day next Friday, February 12.

THURLBY: We kind of do it based on need. In the last 5 or 6 years we’ve been doing one year on, one year off based on any changes or shifts in the soft fruit business to try to keep growers up to speed but overall it’s something the Fruit Commission has been doing for many years.

Thurlby says this is a good chance to get some great information before getting into the new season.

THURLBY: We want growers of apricots, peaches, nectarines if you are still in the prune and plum business then come on in from the cold and try to give yourself a little extra insight as to how you might look at moving forward. I think that the big piece of this year’s stone fruit day, I’d say the center piece is we’re bringing in a gentleman from the New Jersey/Pennsylvania area and his expertise is automated thinning machines.

After the meeting there will be a demonstration of the Darwin String Thinnner.

THURLBY: This year there is no fee because the Buena Grange isn’t charging a fee and there’s no lunch involved or anything so it’s simply come on out and get educated and enjoy the day and the information that’s presented. And it’s going to be short meeting. We’re going to try to get the whole thing done in 3 ½ hours.

The meeting will run from 8:15 to noon. Call the Fruit Commission for more information.

That’s today’s Fruit Grower Report. I’m Greg Martin on the Northwest Ag Information Network.